Posted By Troy E. Renck On May 26, 2009 @ 3:17 pm In Rockies on Deck | No Comments

DENVER — That Ryan Spilborghs is in right can be traced to the fact that Brad Hawpe’s groin is not right. Turns out, he injured himself early in Monday’s loss. He’s not starting tonight as a precaution. Manager Clint Hurdle was not sure if Hawpe would be available to pinch-hit.

There was better news on other injuries:
–First baseman Todd Helton’s headache has vanished. “I have never had something like that. The more I moved around yesterday, the worse it got. But I feel a lot better today.”

–Starter Franklin Morales threw a simulated game today, making progress. “I threw a lot more strikes. I felt better,” said Morales, who has been out for the last three weeks with a strained lat muscle in his side. He will begin a rehab assignment in roughly three days after throwing 60 pitches today.

–Reliever Taylor Buchholz, whose absence has clearly hurt the Rockies, will throw a bullpen session tomorrow. He will likely follow that up with one more pen session before embarking on a rehab assignment to test his elbow. The sooner he can come back the better. If he could provide even a hint of his performance last year, he would be a huge boost to the bullpen.